Hardywood Park Craft Brewery expanding to Goochland County

Richmond-based Hardywood Park Craft Brewery announced plans Monday to expand and  open a brewery in Goochland County.

The company said  it plans to invest $28 million and create 56 jobs over the next five years in the new venture.

Hardywood says the Goochland operation will complement its current facility in Richmond. The Goochland location will include a 60,000-square-foot brewery, packaging and distribution hall, a taproom, an amphitheater, garden and equipment to increase production of its craft beer.

“We're extremely proud of the jobs and ongoing tax revenue we'll be able to create through this project, and we're confident we found the right home for our new brewery in Goochland County, Virginia,” Eric McKay, Hardywood president and co-founder, said in a statement.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $500,000 grant for the project.  He also approved a $400,000 performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program. Hardywood also will receive a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund.  Goochland County has committed up to $1 million in matching funds over a period of up to 10 years.

The Virginia Jobs Investment Program also will provide funding and services for the company’s employee training.

Hardywood was founded in Richmond in 2011.  The company currently distributes throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C. and eastern Pennsylvania.  Its new production facility will allow Hardywood to continue to meet the growing demand from its existing markets, as well as enter new ones.

Virginia competed against North Carolina for the project.